August 26, 2013 at 6:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Coyle leads Salem in comeback victory
8/26 Cup of Coffee: Victories by Pawtucket and Salem helped increase their playoff odds, while a loss from the Spinners dropped them further back in their playoff chase. Losses from Portland and Greenville rounded off the docket on Sunday.
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Overcoming an early deficit, Pawtucket came back for a 6-5 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY). Anthony Ranaudo received the start, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks in just three innings of work. Chris Carpenter, Chris Martin, Pedro Beato, and Anthony Carter combined for six scoreless innings of relief, helping to lock down the PawSox victory.
Down 1-0 in the first, Mark Hamilton laced an RBI single to the tie the game. Finding themselves in a 5-1 hole in the fourth, a Bryce Brentz two-run home run pulled the PawSox to within two. A two-out, two-run double from Jonathan Diaz in the fifth tied the game, 5-5. A leadoff home run from Brock Holt in the seventh ended up being the eventual winning run.
The victory moved Pawtucket 2.5 games in front of second place Rochester with eight games to play.
The victory moved Pawtucket 2.5 games in front of second place Rochester with eight games to play.
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Portland could not get the big hit it needed, as the Sea Dogs lost 3-2 to the Trenton Thunder (NYY) in 10 innings. Chris Hernandez pitched well in his six innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, while striking out five. Terry Doyle received the loss, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Down 1-0 in the second, the Sea Dogs tied the game on a Michael Almanzar solo home run. Portland entered the ninth down by one and quickly loaded the bases. Deven Marrero grounded into a double play, resulting in Ryan Dent being thrown out at home. After a Garin Cecchini walk, J.C. Linares drew a bases loaded walk to bring home the tying run.
Trenton used a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt to bring home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. The Sea Dogs left 12 runners on base and were just 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Down 1-0 in the second, the Sea Dogs tied the game on a Michael Almanzar solo home run. Portland entered the ninth down by one and quickly loaded the bases. Deven Marrero grounded into a double play, resulting in Ryan Dent being thrown out at home. After a Garin Cecchini walk, J.C. Linares drew a bases loaded walk to bring home the tying run.
Trenton used a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt to bring home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. The Sea Dogs left 12 runners on base and were just 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
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Salem rallied late to pull off a 6-5 victory over the Carolina Mudcats (CLE). Heri Quevedo received the start for the Red Sox, tossing 3 2/3 innings and allowing four runs on four hits and three walks. Mathew Price moved to 6-0, as he hurled two shutout innings of relief.
Sean Coyle (pictured) led off the game with a home run, and Stefan Welch brought home Henry Ramos on an RBI ground out in the first inning, giving Salem a 2-0 advantage. A Matt Gedman solo home run in the second and a Welch solo home run in the third gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead. Salem led off the first three innings with a solo home run.
Carolina tied the game in the fourth and took a 5-4 lead in the fifth. The Red Sox tied the game in the sixth on a Coyle RBI single. The game remained tied until the ninth, when Gedman hit a two-out, game-winning RBI single. The Mudcats got a runner into scoring position in the ninth, but Price shut down any further Mudcats rally. The Red Sox now hold a 2.5 game lead in the Carolina League's Northern Division with eight games left to play.
Sean Coyle (pictured) led off the game with a home run, and Stefan Welch brought home Henry Ramos on an RBI ground out in the first inning, giving Salem a 2-0 advantage. A Matt Gedman solo home run in the second and a Welch solo home run in the third gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead. Salem led off the first three innings with a solo home run.
Carolina tied the game in the fourth and took a 5-4 lead in the fifth. The Red Sox tied the game in the sixth on a Coyle RBI single. The game remained tied until the ninth, when Gedman hit a two-out, game-winning RBI single. The Mudcats got a runner into scoring position in the ninth, but Price shut down any further Mudcats rally. The Red Sox now hold a 2.5 game lead in the Carolina League's Northern Division with eight games left to play.
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Despite out-hitting their opponent 9-7, Greenville fell to the Lexington Legends (KC), 4-2. Cody Kukuk tossed 3 2/3 innings, surrendering two unearned runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Raynel Velette dropped to 0-3, hurling 3 1/3 innings of relief and allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, including five strikeouts.
Reed Gragnani was 2 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a walk to lead the Greenville offense.
Reed Gragnani was 2 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a walk to lead the Greenville offense.
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The Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) completed a three-game sweep of the Spinners, dropping Lowell, 11-9. Clay Bucholz returned to the mound for the first time since June 8th, tossing just 2/3 of an inning, allowing three runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks, while striking out one. Yunior Ortega took over for Buccholz, tossing 3 1/3 innings of relief and giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk, including two strikeouts. Corey Littrell pitched three strong innings in relief. He surrendered just three hits to go along with two strikeouts.
The Spinners held an 8-6 lead after the top of the eighth inning, but the Renegades scored five runs off of Mike Adams in the bottom half of the inning to take an 11-8 advantage. Lowell brought home a run in the ninth on a Danny Bethea sacrifice fly, but were unable to overcome the deficit.
Manuel Margot was 4 for 4 with a double, a triple, four runs scored, a walk, and an RBI. Jake Romanski also had a big day, going 3 for 4 with two solo home runs. Lowell fell to four games back of first place Tri-City with 10 games left to play.
The Spinners held an 8-6 lead after the top of the eighth inning, but the Renegades scored five runs off of Mike Adams in the bottom half of the inning to take an 11-8 advantage. Lowell brought home a run in the ninth on a Danny Bethea sacrifice fly, but were unable to overcome the deficit.
Manuel Margot was 4 for 4 with a double, a triple, four runs scored, a walk, and an RBI. Jake Romanski also had a big day, going 3 for 4 with two solo home runs. Lowell fell to four games back of first place Tri-City with 10 games left to play.
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Players of the Day: Sean Coyle and Manuel Margot. Coyle has returned strong from injury, hitting .243/.380/.514 with five home runs and 13 RBI in 19 games this month. The 21-year-old infielder has homered in three straight games, going 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's win against Carolina.
Margot has had a hot August, hitting .469/.500/.688 with a home run and nine RBI in seven games this month. On Sunday, Margot was 4 for 4, scoring four runs and falling a home run short of a cycle.
Margot has had a hot August, hitting .469/.500/.688 with a home run and nine RBI in seven games this month. On Sunday, Margot was 4 for 4, scoring four runs and falling a home run short of a cycle.
Photo Credit: Sean Coyle by Kelly O'Connor.
John Gray is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.